How long does it take Washington ESD unemployment to pay you after filing?

Thanks! I did file my weekly claim yesterday. Do I need to keep doing job searches during this waiting period?

Yes, you need to do 3 job searches per week and log them in WorkSourceWA. Start doing that immediately even while your claim is pending.

Oh no, how do I know if my employer is contesting it? Should I be worried?

you'll get a notice in your account if they contest it. most employers don't bother unless you were fired for misconduct

What exactly is adjudication? My status just says pending, not adjudication.

Adjudication is when they need to investigate something about your claim before approving benefits. Pending usually just means they're processing it normally. You'd see 'adjudication in progress' if there was an issue.

I've been in adjudication for 7 weeks now and can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to find out what's happening. The phone system is impossible.

Really? How much does it cost? I'm desperate at this point.

It's worth it just for the time savings. Much better than spending entire days trying to get through the busy signals.

I'm skeptical of these services but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken I might try anything at this point.

I understand the frustration but most claims do get processed within the normal timeframe. The pandemic really overwhelmed their systems and they're still catching up.

That's no excuse for leaving people without income for over a month!

Don't panic yet. Adjudication can be triggered by routine verification checks. Look for any correspondence in your account that might explain what they need to review.

This is exactly when I used Claimyr to get through and find out what was causing the delay. The agent was able to tell me exactly what documents they needed.

same thing happened to me last month, turned out they just needed to verify my wages. took another 2 weeks after I provided the info

I chose direct deposit so hopefully that helps. Do they send you any notification when they actually issue the payment?

You'll see it in your payment history in your online account, and most banks will show pending deposits a day early.

Yeah it helps to know others are going through the same thing. Keep me posted on when yours comes through!

The uncertainty is the worst part. I wish they would just give better estimates of processing times.

I've tried calling at 8am multiple times and still can't get through. The lines are jammed immediately.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr are so helpful - they handle all the calling and waiting for you.

That's good to know! I was worried I might miss out on those first weeks if it takes too long to process.

Yes, this is important - don't skip filing weekly claims just because you haven't been paid yet. You have to maintain that pattern.

That gives me hope! Did you have to do anything special or did it just process automatically?

Nothing special, just filed weekly claims and kept up with job search requirements. The system worked like it was supposed to.

You're lucky. I'm going on week 5 with no payment and no explanation.

I didn't know that was an option. Do you know how that process works?

You can find your representative on the state legislature website and call their office. Explain your situation and ask if they can help with Washington ESD.

Wow, I might have to try that service too. How long did it take them to get you connected?

About 25 minutes. Way better than the hours I spent trying to call myself.

Glad it worked for you! It's amazing what you can find out when you actually get to talk to someone.

Good to know there are escalation options if needed. Hopefully it won't come to that.

What's considered an unreasonable delay? I feel like 6 weeks is already too long when people need money for basic expenses.

Congrats! That gives me hope that mine will come through soon too.

Great news! That's actually a pretty typical timeline for a straightforward claim.

This thread was really helpful to follow. Good to see a success story!